Five New Rules of Successful Job Search in 2013

We’ve used the Internet to find jobs since 1994, and, over time, the rules for a conducting a safe and successful job search have changed.  In 2013, we have a high level of competition for jobs, widespread use (and mis-use) of social media, plus easy access to information provided by search engines.

1.  Read the job postings very carefully – differentiate yourself.

Duh!  Who doesn’t read the job posting?  Nearly everyone!  They are too busy applying as fast as they can for all the jobs they find (waste of time!).

Be sure you meet at least 80% of the requirements before you apply, or you will be training that employer to view your application as spam.  

Then, demonstrate that you can read and follow directions!  Look for specific directions on how to apply, and follow those directions exactly.  If they want you to describe your biggest accomplishment, do that, and tie it to the requirements of the job.  If they want you to email your resume to a specific account, send it to that account.

2.  Leverage the potential employers’ Websites – differentiate yourself.

Once you have figured out what you want to do (don’t try to find a job without knowing that!), look for appropriate employers – in the right location and industry, right size, financially healthy, etc. Then, visit the potential employers’ Websites to see if they post their job opportunities there. 

If you can, apply directly on the employer’s Website.  Connect the dots between a job's requirements and your qualifications and accomplishments, using the language in the job description and mentioning the employers products and/or services in the process.

3.  Knock their socks off in the job interview by being well-prepared and well-informed - differentiate yourself.

Check out the employer's website.  What do they say they do?  What are their products and/or services?  What is their history?  Do they post announcements and management profiles or other background on the organization?  Look around to see what is there.

Then, put a search engine to work for you.  Search on the employer's name to see what you find.  Add terms to the search like "announced," "introduced," “growing,” and "expanding" to find good news about the employer.

To avoid a new job with a declining company, also search on the employer's name plus terms like "poor sales," "closing," "layoffs," and “unprofitable.”

If you have their names of the people who will be interviewing you, check the LinkedIn Profiles and Google (or Bing) them, too.  Do you have anything in common - a school, a location, an interest

4.  Practice “defensive Googling.”

Know what Google shows employers when they search on your name (and more than 80% of them will before they call you in for an interview).  Even if you have lived a perfect, blameless life, someone else with the same name may not be so perfect.  And, their online visibility may cause you serious problems, particularly if they live in the same state or region.

So, Google your name once a week to see what is there.  It’s a defensive move, so I call it “defensive Googling.”  And, it’s a smart thing to do.

If there is someone who could be confused with you, be sure to have a complete and public LinkedIn Profile.  Google typically shows LinkedIn Profiles on the first page of the search results on any person’s name, so it is great self-defense as well as smart job hunting.

5.  Stop making these dangerous false assumptions –

• It’s okay to look for a job with a new employer while you’re at work. 
  (No! It's a good way to get fired or, at least, to have a very awkward converstation with your boss.)
   
• Every job posting you see is a legitimate job for a legitimate employer. 
  (No!  Sadly, there are many scam jobs and scam employers, plus scam jobs that pretend to be from real employers.  There are even fake job boards.)
   
• You can believe that the address in the “From:” field of an e-mail message is accurate.  
  (No!  Scammers can fake the from address to look like a real, and then direct you to a scam job board or imitation of a real employer's website.)

Bottom Line

Don’t be discouraged by this list!  Job hunting is different that it was in the past, but over 4,000,000 people land jobs every month, according to the U.S. Department of Labor’s JOLTS report.  Your turn will come soon!

About Susan P. Joyce

Susan P. Joyce is publisher, editor, and chief writer of Job-Hunt.org, a free, award-winning website helping job seekers safely navigate online job search since 1994.  She is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and Harvard University's Personnel Office and has been laid off twice.